What I Read in May 📖

Hello readers, and happy summer reading season!! I’m curious— do you find reading to be fairly consistent in your life? And/or do you notice times in the year when reading takes a bit of a dip?

Reading is a pretty consistent part of my life, but there are definitely times when I’m reading more, and times when I’m reading less. May was a bit of a reading slump month for me. I actually read some fantastic books, but the happenings through the month were not conducive to my typical reading cadence. My older boys (and husband, the coach) had looots of baseball games, the OKC Thunder were in the playoffs (which ate up my prime reading time— evenings), we hosted four adults for a weekend (which meant lots of food and house prep), and I poured a lot of time (happily!) into my BIG summer reading guide.

All things considered, I did get to binge a buzzy new beach read, start Elizabeth Strout’s brand-new release on Mother’s Day, read one of her oldest backlist titles, and read an incredible new novel as well as a wild memoir. I don’t mind a slower reading life so long as it means I’m using that time in other ways I want to (as opposed to scrolling life away, which is what drove me to strengthen my reading life in 2020). I am excited for a shift to summer reading and some fresh new reading energy after a busy month. But the big question is: what should I read first? Tell me! What are you reading to kick off summer?

Strangers by Belle Burden | wild!

This is a fascinating and infuriating memoir about a woman whose husband blindsides her by leaving her— and their three adolescent children— in the middle of peak COVID uncertainty for the younger woman he’d been having an affair with. Burden dives into all the details of the aftermath, the messy financial complications, and her ruptured identity in the process. What would you do if the person you have loved and thought you knew better than anyone, who you shared a life with, shatters everything you thought was real? This was truly wild.

Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune | overall enjoyed it

This story kicks off when Frankie’s fiancé dumps her on the morning of her wedding, and ohhhhh do I love a quick juicy hook in a romance story. Frankie’s best friend from childhood, George, joins her for what would have been her honeymoon in Tofino (oh gee wonder how that will play out?!). The setting was gorgeous, the relationship was one I enjoyed rooting for, and the side plots— rocky mother-daughter relationship, creative career pursuits, climate journalism— were a nice bonus. At times the story felt a bit juvenile to me, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment as a fluffy beach read.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout | loved!

After a year of reading the majority of Strout’s backlist, I got to read her newest release, featuring an entirely new cast of characters (with a very subtle nod to ole Olive), and I loved it! Artie is a middle-aged high school history teacher who feels completely alone amidst the busy world that buzzes around him. But after both an unexpected event and a big family secret are revealed, his interior world completely shifts. Artie is a character who feels as real and relatable to me as my right hand. He will stick with me for a long while. This book is a beautiful depiction of Strout’s signature work as she peels back the layers of what makes us imperfectly human. If you have not yet read any of her books, this would be a perfect starting point.

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout | liked it

Venturing back to Strout’s sophomore novel, Abide with Me tells the story of a young widowed father and minister in a small Maine town. Similar to Olive Kitteridge and Anything Is Possible, this book reads like a collection of short stories featuring the various residents of the minister’s parish. While I ultimately enjoyed it, this was my least favorite of Strout’s novels. I listened to the audio, which I don’t think was the right format for it (I started it on audio a few months ago from my library and then had to circle back to it), so I may revisit the physical book someday to see if that offers a different experience.

Kin by Tayari Jones | loved!

This is a stunning book that is to be enjoyed slowly and thoughtfully, ideally with a highlighter in hand. Annie and Vernice grow up side-by-side in a small town in the American South without either of their mothers. Their paths diverge when Annie up and leaves in the middle of the night in search of the mother she’s never known while Vernice (whose mother was killed by her father as an infant) heads off to Spelman for college. The story is captivating, emotional, and in a league of its own. I loved this so much, and I hope to read Jones’ previous and highly praised novel, An American Marriage, very soon.

audio: I’m listening to Whistler by Ann Patchett (thanks to Libro.fm for the ARC) because Patchett narrates it herself! I am only a toe-dip in, but already enjoying Patchett’s delicious storytelling. I’m getting some light The Dutch House vibes from it.

physical book: I need to pick my next book and I actually have no idea what to choose! My BOTM box arrived yesterday (I chose Nymph by Sofia Montrone and Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom because I really enjoyed Aestehtica a few years ago) and I also ordered a few books from some Substacker recommendations on my summer reading guide from Elyse Chambers’ book store, Wild Plum Books! I may start with one of those, but if you have a strong opinion, I’m open to receiving direction. 😂

Okay, but for real, what are you reading first this summer?!

Happy reading—

Want more bookish content? Here are some recent newsletters that have featured books and reading. I hope you find your next great read!

Books are linked through Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase any, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. And I’ll likely spend any earnings on more books or salsa ingredients. :)